Introducing the new characters in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Galen Erso played by Mads Mikkelsen and K-2SO played Alan Tudyk. These new characters are a great addition to the cast. K-2SO is a new version of C3PO but with more of a funny and sarcastic attitude you will all love. And Galen Erso is the bad guy of the film or is he? Since I only saw 28 minutes of the film I can’t really say what he is yet but will soon find out when Rogue One: A Star Wars Story hits theaters this Friday, December 16.

While I was in San Francisco, I had a chance to chat with both Mads Mikkelsen and Alan Tudyk about their characters, the film, and more. It was a pleasure to interview both of them at the same time and were quite funny during the interview together. This is what they had to say.

Photo Credit: Disney

Mads Mikkelsen as Galen Erso

Galen is a scientist, working closely together with Krennic in the film. Before the film he was actually working on a project of potential of making the world a better place, and also the potential of not doing so. He is also the father of the hero K-2SO.

Photo Credit: Disney

Alan Tudyk as K-2SO

K-2SO is a droid who was formerly of the Empire, and he’s been reprogrammed by Cassian’s character, and has been working with him prior to every—prior to the introduction to Jyn. He’s a soldier in the Alliance. He’s been reprogrammed and the reprogram has caused him to be free with his own personality, which invites some brutal honesty in moments where honesty isn’t really required. He can be funny in that way and sarcastic, and passive-aggressive, and all those fun things that sort of sidekicks—although he’s there partner.

Photo Credit: MomStart.com

Scripted or Adlib

Alan Tudyk got to use more ad lib in the film where Mads Mikkelsen’s character was more scripted. Alan explains that he was lucky to ad lib a lot. The director Gareth was all for having fun with the characters and discovering how the scenes fit on the locations. While he got to ad lib a lot it was not like that the entire movie. There was just some moments in the film that it worked best.

Reaction to Getting a Part in Star Wars

To get a part in a Star Wars movie is huge especially if you are a fan like Mads and Alan are. Mads got a phone call from the Gareth the director pitching him the story and asked if he wanted to be on board. He didn’t feel it was necessary to see a script because I mean, it’s Star Wars and his kids would have been upset if he did not accept.

Alan always dreamed of having an action figure someday, he says. He got a call from Gareth over Skype and found out it the part was for a droid. At first he thought they were just talking about droids and didn’t know he wanted him to be in the film and then discovered that yes indeed he wanted him in the film. He then recorded an audition tape with his wife at home and sent it to Gareth. And then of course he got the part!

Photo Credit: MomStart.com

Literally on Fire

A little fact from the set was that Alan Tudyk was literally on fire during filming. He had to wear a motion capture suit and caught fire on his back from one of the explosions on the set. A spark hit the suit and he felt it get hot. Luckily he was okay and ended up wearing fire-retardant undershirts after that.

Most Challenging Scene

Mads explains that all the scenes were basically challenging but one especially was when they were filming in Iceland. He says that it was cold and rainy and most of the movie he was wet during it. Alan on the other hand did not find a challenging scene as he says he would stay in the spaceship when it rained since he is where a motion capture suit and cannot get wet.

What I think is neat is that both of them just starred in 2 other Disney films before Star Wars. Mads Mikkelsen played Kaecilius in Doctor Strange and Alan Tudyk is the voice of Heihei in Moana. And now they are both starring together in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Be sure to take the entire family to see Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in theaters on December 16!

SYNOPSIS:
From Lucasfilm comes the first of the Star Wars standalone films, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” an all-new epic adventure. In a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction. This key event in the Star Wars timeline brings together ordinary people who choose to do extraordinary things, and in doing so, become part of something greater than themselves.

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